Stop Killing Games and DoesItPlay? Back Dutch Lawsuit Against Sony

The Stop Killing Games campaign and DoesItPlay? have officially announced their support for the "Fair PlayStation" case, a class action lawsuit brought by the Dutch foundation Stichting Massaschade & Consument (SM&C) against Sony.

Both groups are treating the case as a central consumer rights battle over Sony's closed digital ecosystem on PlayStation.

What Exactly Is The Dutch Lawsuit Accusing Sony Of?

The Fair PlayStation case argues that Sony has abused its dominant market position by running a closed PlayStation Store that shuts out competing digital storefronts, giving the company outsized control over pricing.

According to the foundation, this has created a "Sony Tax," with Dutch consumers paying roughly 47% more for digital games compared to physical copies, despite digital distribution generally costing less to run. Sony's platform commission, sitting around 30%, gets passed along to buyers, and the absence of real competition keeps prices high even on older titles.

The lawsuit is seeking damages estimated above 400 million euros, on behalf of an estimated 1.7 million Dutch PS4 and PS5 owners who made at least one purchase through the PlayStation Store since November 29, 2013.

Beyond damages, the case is also pushing for more openness in the digital marketplace overall.

A first hearing held on June 29, 2026 dealt with jurisdiction, applicable law, and whether the foundation has standing to represent the class under the Netherlands' WAMCA collective action framework. A ruling on those threshold questions is still pending, and if the foundation clears that bar, the case will move to the merits stage. Dutch residents can register for free through the foundation's official site.

Sony's July 2026 decision to end physical disc production for all new PlayStation titles starting in January 2028 has added fuel to the case. Advocates argue the move wipes out the last real competitive alternative, physical retail and the secondhand market, pushing players further into a closed PlayStation Store with no other options.

The Dutch case is far from isolated. In the United Kingdom, the PlayStation You Owe Us collective action is seeking somewhere between 1.97 and 2 billion pounds for consumers affected by the same closed ecosystem pricing structure, with a judgment expected later this year after the trial wrapped earlier in 2026.

In the United States, the Caccuri case over Sony halting third-party download code sales settled for 7.85 million dollars, while a separate suit is challenging the "Buy Now" language Sony uses, arguing it misleads buyers into thinking they own games rather than holding a limited license.

Portugal, Mexico, and other regions are seeing similar antitrust-style actions taking shape as well.

DoesItPlay? is also organizing a PSBlackout, a week-long consumer protest running from August 23 to August 30, 2026, asking players to power down their consoles and avoid any purchases on Sony platforms.

Meanwhile, the Change.org petition demanding Sony reverse its disc decision has crossed 360,000 verified signatures, though most analysts still expect Sony to hold its course.

The Stop Killing Games movement, started by Ross Scott of Accursed Farms back in 2024, originally focused on stopping publishers from bricking games after server shutdowns. Since then, it has broadened into backing related consumer lawsuits and preservation causes. Its EU citizens' initiative pulled in more than 1.29 million verified signatures, but the European Commission rejected it for binding legislation in June 2026. Organizers say they are still pushing through the European Parliament and other legal channels.